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The 4 C's (CUT,
color, clarity,
carat weight) (Click to
view each)
Diamonds are Graded - and Valued - on the basis of what is commonly
referred to as "The 4 C's"
- Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight.
Cut -
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"Cut"
is the single most determining factor of a Diamond's beauty.
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The actual term "CUT" refers to the proportions
in which a Diamond is cut. It is the SINGLE most important
of the "4 C's" and is the least discussed. One of the
reasons for this lack of discussion is that there has never been
a worldwide accepted grading system for CUT. The American Gem Society
has established a Cut Grade System, but this can be used by only
a small percentage of jewelers who are members of their organization
(AGS). Their Cut Grading System applies only to Round Brilliant
Cut Diamonds and not to any Fancy Shape Diamonds. AGS membership
is currently limited to Diamond Retailers and Wholesalers in the
United States and Canada. None of the Diamond Cutters in Antwerp,
Belgium, Tel-Aviv, Israel, or Bombay, India belong to AGS.
Although their Cut Grading System had not been accepted worldwide,
one Gemological Association has graded CUT on the basis of eight
Grades:
CUT Grades
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1A |
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"Ideal Cut" |
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1B |
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2A |
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"Premium Cut" |
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2B |
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3A |
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"Choice Cut"
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3B |
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4A |
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"Value
Cut" |
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4B |
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- - Diamond Cut Vs. Shape- -
Cut is not to be confused with "Shape".
The most popular "Shapes" of a diamond are:
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Round
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Marquise
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Pear
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Radiant |
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| Oval |
Heart |
Emerald
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Princess |
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All Fancy Shape Diamonds appear visually
larger in size than comparable weights in Round Diamonds. There
are three reasons for this:
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Round
Diamonds can only be cut from a perfectly "symmetrical
crystal" (or "Mackle", as it is called), whereas
all Fancy Shape Diamonds can be cut from "Irregularly Shaped"
Mackles. There is a much larger supply of irregularly shaped
mackles than there is of the perfect symmetrical shaped mackles;
hence the Old Law of Supply vs. Demand.
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| 2) |
There
is a much greater "Weight Loss" in cutting Round Diamonds
than in cutting Fancy Shape Diamonds. If one were to take two
uncut mackles of Diamond "Rough", each "Rough"
weighing the same and both mackles cut, one to yield a Round
Diamond and the other to yield a Fancy Shape Diamond, the Fancy
Shape Diamond could weigh as much as 40 - 50% more than the
Round Diamond.
Who pays for this "Weight Loss"? Ultimately the consumer
does, because the "cost" of this "Weight Loss"
has been added into the Diamond's cost at every level of its
marketing.
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Not
only does the Fancy Shape Diamond retain more of its original
weight after cutting, it also looks larger than its "Same
Weight Counterpart". This is because all Fancy Shape Diamonds
have two dimensions (a LENGTH that is longer than its WIDTH);
whereas, a Round Diamond is one-dimensional. (It has a circumference.)
For example, an "Ideal-Cut" Round Diamond weighing
exactly one carat (1.00 CT.) has a girdle diameter of 6.5 millimeters,
whereas an "Ideal-Cut" Marquise Diamond weighing exactly
one carat (1.00 CT.) has a length of 10.0 millimeters and a
width of 5.0 millimeters. The one carat Marquise Diamond looks
35% larger.
Diamond shape is a matter of individual preference. A
survey conducted by Modern Bride magazine in November
of 1999 found the following: |
Diamond Shapes
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32% |
chose a Round Brilliant Diamond |
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32% |
chose
a Marquise Shape Diamond |
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19% |
chose
a Pear Shape Diamond |
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12% |
chose
an Emerald Cut or Radiant Cut Diamond |
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5% |
chose
a Oval Shape Diamond |
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- - Cut Grading for Fancy Shape Diamonds - -
The small percentage of AGS retailers
and suppliers grade the CUT of only Round Diamonds, but the cut
grading system of 1A-1B-2A-2B-3A-3B-4A-4B can be applied to a Fancy
Shape Diamond's cut as well. The procedure for assigning the Fancy
Shape Cut Grade differs from that of a Round Diamond. A Fancy Shape
Diamond's Cut Grade is determined by the percentage ratio of its
length to its width.
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- Types of Diamond Cuts - -
No
one cut is more beautiful than another. Each one is unique and a
work of art. The nature of the "uncut rough" determines
what shape the Diamond Cutter chooses to cut the diamond. Contrary
to public belief, all of the "Fancy Shape" diamonds (A
"Fancy Shape" is any shape other than a "Round Brilliant
Cut"), are more reasonable in price than comparable qualities
and sizes of Round Diamonds.
Click the diamonds below to view detailed information on each Cut:
A
Diamond's Cut is what enables the diamond to handle light. The
Cut Grading System is the means by which Diamond Merchants can
identify the quality of a Diamond. It takes an expert to know
an excellent cut from a passable one.
An "Ideal Cut"
Diamond - Cut Graded "1A" or "1B" - will
be 20% - 25% higher in price than a "Premium Cut"
Diamond, Cut Graded "2A" or "2B".
A
"Choice Cut" Diamond - cut graded "3A" or
"3B" - will be from 20% - 30% lower in price than
a "Premium Cut" Diamond, whereas, a "Value Cut"
Diamond - cut graded "4A" or "4B" will be
from 40% - 50% lower in price than a "Premium Cut"
Diamond. Therefore, a "Value Cut" Diamond - cut graded
"4A" or "4B" should be priced from
60% - 75% lower than an "Ideal Cut" Diamond. Never
buy a Diamond - whether it be from a "Bricks and Mortar"
jeweler or an Internet Seller - unless the Diamond Merchant
assigns a specific cut grade to an individual diamond - loose
or mounted. |
Click the diamonds below to view information on each Cutting Grade:
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